Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) two-year-old pacing males completed their second leg of eliminations Monday (Oct. 5) at Harrington Raceway in a trio of $28,571 divisions where Hawaiian Warfare was the quickest of the three.
Hawaiian Warfare ($2.40, Mike Cole) continued an impressive start to his career with his sixth win in seven career starts in 1:55.3 for trainer Erin Neilson. Hawaiian Warfare stalked in second throughout while Bootcamp Baby (Allan Davis) led through splits of :29.1, :58 and 1:27.1. Hawaiian Warfare waited patiently for the the passing lane, rocking through to nail the pacesetter by a head on the wire. Bootcamp Baby was second with Hes Soaring (Ryder Skinner) third.
Hawaiian Warfare is a homebred U S Captain-Ukulele Blue Chip gelding owned by Forrest Bartlett of Shiloh, NC. The career best effort brought Hawaiian Warefare's seasonal earnings to $62,077.
Beachalator ($5.80, Brandon Givens) was a 1:58.3 winner in the first division on the evening for trainer Les Givens.
After sitting second through an opening quarter of :29.3, Beachalator took charge to the halfway point in 1:00.2. Beachalator moved to three-quarters in 1:30.2 before outsprinting See Jack Run (Ross Wolfenden) home to score by a head on the line. Blackjack Party (Art Stafford Jr.) secured the third spot.
It was the second career victory for Beachalator, a ridgeling son of Highalator-I Love The Beach. Nanticoke Racing of Seaford, DE, Herny Faragalli III of Bryn Mawr, PA, and Arthur Freeney of Shelbyville, DE bred and own the career earner of $25,561.
The final DSBF split went to Jays Watchin ($6, Tony Morgan) in 1:56.3.
Blue Jays Watchin got away third in line while Aeneas (Montrell Teague) led the charge through fractions of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:26.3. Blue Jays Watching went after that foe late, powering home in :29.1 to track down the pacesetter late. Aeneas was second, with Crown Apple Beach (Troy Beyer) finishing third.
Richard Havens of Bland, VA owns Blue Jays Watching while Daniel Gassien trains. The Hes Watching-NF Salsa gelding has now won two of three on the year, banking $25,553 following his career best effort.
The top eight point earners from the eliminations will return to compete in the $110,000 USD final on Oct. 12.
Meanwhile, Wehadababyetzaboy ($2.40, Brandon Givens) won the overnight feature, the $22,500 Open in 1:51.3. The seven-year-old Sweet Lou gelding continued to dominate the Open ranks with a powerful front-end score despite post eight for trainer Chuck Crissman Jr. Primo Maschio was second with Stevens Saloon finishing third.
EVM Racing of Middletown, DE trains the winning seven-year-old Sweet Lou-Camille gelding who has won 13 of 33 on the year, surpassing $750,000 in career earnings following his 37th lifetime victory.
Live racing will continue at Harrington on a Monday through Wednesday schedule until Oct. 21.
(With files from Harrington Raceway; Photo of Hawaiian Warfare winning on Oct. 5)